Publications

GOCE scientific objectives

GOCE was in orbit around Earth for just over 4.5 years, much longer than its designed life of 20 months. During that time, it mapped Earth's gravity field with unprecedented accuracy and spatial resolution.

The data provided by the GOCE mission are leading to:

A better understanding of the physics of the Earth's interior to gain new insights into the geodynamics associated with the lithosphere, mantle composition and rheology, uplift and subduction processes.

A better understanding of the ocean currents and heat transport.

A global height-reference system, to serve as a reference surface to study topographic processes and sea-level change.

Better estimates of the thickness of polar ice-sheets and their movement.

Mission goals

GOCE data have specific accuracy requirements for each application area. Requirements for the accuracy of geoid height and the gravity field are summarised in the table below:

Application

Accuracy,Geoid [cm]

Accuracy,Gravity [mGal]

Spatial Resolution(half wavelength) [km]

Solid Earth

Lithosphere and upper-mantle density structure

1-2

100

Continental lithosphere:

• sedimentary basins

1-2

50-100

• rifts

1-2

20-100

• tectonic motions

1-2

100-500

• Seismic hazards

1

100

Ocean lithosphere and interaction with asthenosphere

0.5-1

100-200

Oceanography

Short-scale

1-2

0.2

100

200

Basin scale

~0.1

1000

Ice sheets

Rock basement

1-5

50-100

Ice vertical movements

2

100-1000

Geodesy

Levelling by GPS

1

100-1000

Unification of worldwide height systems

1

100-20 000

Inertial Navigation System

~1-5

100-1000

Orbits

~1-3

100-1000

Many of the applications above are relevant for understanding sea-level change.